10.5.06

... While in high school, Mickey met Trini Lopez, who offered him a steady job. It was his first real taste of living on the road -"nothin' but cokes and cheeseburgers." ... A young fan and frequenter of P.J.'s finally persuaded Mickey to team up with him for a fresh challenge. His name was Johnny Rivers. Together they recorded a string of hits including "Maybelline," "Mountain of Love," and "Secret Agent Man." During the following three years Mickey recorded seven albums and toured the world, including a trip to Vietnam with Rivers and Ann-Margret. ... Then another admirer entered Mickey's life. Bob Dylan noticed Mickey while he was playing at the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in Los Angeles, and a professional alliance began that lasted for years. The two became close friends as well. ... Through old acquaintances, The Smothers Brothers, Mickey was contacted by "four singers who needed a drummer." The four singers turned out to be the seed of what later grew into "The First Edition." Of their initial meetings Mickey remembered, "I was really impressed by their unique vocal sound and when we rehearsed it was like I'd known them all my life - everything just fell into place." This relationship was to last a decade. During that period "Kenny Rogers and The First Edition," with Mickey as drummer and singer, recorded a stack of albums and dozen of singles including "Just Dropped In To See What Condition My Condition Was In," and "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town." The First Edition made a half dozen tours, a film and a TV series, "Rollin' On the River," which is still in reruns around the world. Engagements kept Mickey on an airplane 288 days in 1975. ... To not know Mickey Jones by name is understandable, but to not recognize him is surprising. Mickey has played hundreds of characters in films and on television, including his long stint on "Home Improvement"